Steam-boiler



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO R. KETCHAM, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

STEAM-BOILER.

Speccaton of Letters Patent To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO R. KETCHAM, of Buffalo, in the county ofErie, in the State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedSteam-Boiler; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings and to the let-- ters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invent-ion relates to the construct-ion of one commonfire and combustion chamber centrally within the boiler and the relativearrangement of the several furnaces and registers in reference thereto,into which fire chamber the ames, smoke and gas from the severalfurnaces are discharged, for the purposes of intensifying and retainingthe heat therein and consuming the gasY and smoke therein as set forth`To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure I, is a plan. Fig. II, is a longitudinal section. Fig. III, is anelevation of the front end, (the smoke jacket being removed). Fig. IV,is an elevation of the rear end, (the smoke jacket being removed.)

Letters of like name and kind refer to like part-s in each of thefigures.

A, furnaces. These are made in the cylindrical form and are within theboiler, and (as it were) are a part thereof. They should be made ofheavy boiler iron and about 14 inches in diameter, and in height extendfrom the bottom of the boiler to the interior fire chamber, into whichthe fiames are discharged. They are grated at the bottomwith ash boxbelow. Air is admitted at the bottom through the grates. The number oft-he furnaces in each boiler will be governed by the size of the boiler,the principle being to distribute the fires throughout the entire lengthof the boiler and surround the furnaces with the water in the boiler.Under some circumstances it may be desirable to set the furnaces inbrick work or otherwise, out-- side the boiler, in which case Icontemplate so doing without changing the main feature of my interiorfire chamber.

B, registers. These will hold a sufficient quantity of coal to supplythe furnaces for, say from to 50 miles. By means of the rods, (Z, eachfurnace can be fed separately from the other, by the fireman withoutleaving his place.

c, fire chamber. This is located .Centrally No. 20,802, dated July 6,1858'.

within the boiler and the water surrounds it. The flames from each fire,pass into this chamber and there combine and make an intense heat, whereall the gas and smoke from the furnaces will be consumed. Pipes,connecting the external air with this chamber, will be introduced intothe arrangement so as to increase and intensify the heat. These pipesmay pass through the furnaces, or through the boiler chamber, so thatthe air will be well heated before it enters the fire chamber. Thischamber is not intended for, and does not act as a mere flue nor asseveral flues, to give draft and conduct off the heat, smoke, gas, &c.It is made of a much larger capacity than is expedient for such purposesmerely. It is intended for, and serves the purpose of one commonreservoir, and combustion chamber, where the flames and heat, from theseveral furnaces accumulate and become augmented by the consumptiontherein of the smoke and gas, and the heat also becomes concentrated andintensified by its delay or dwelling therein.

(Z, rods, connecting with the registers, and by which the fireman canfeed the furnaces without leaving his place in the Caboose. E, ash-bo-x.F, rear, smoke jacket. Gr, front, smoke jacket.

7L, door and opening in the rear end of the lire chamber. This door maybe opened when kindling` or starting the fires, so as to open a. directdraft, with the chimney. This door and opening will also be of servicein cleaning the fire chamber and in making repairs.

I, iues, which return the flame from the front to the rear smoke jacket.J, chimney.

I deem this description in connection with the drawings to besufiiciently explicit to enable a mechanic skilled in the art to makeand use my invention.

The advantages gained by my invention are 1st, the application and useof cylindrical furnaces by which the combustion of the coal will be moreperfect, and the greatest possible amount of heat obtained therefrom.2d, a great advantage is gained by the distribution of the firesthroughout the entire length of the boiler (or circumference, if anupright boiler is used, the principle of my improvement being applicableto an upright boiler) whereby heating surfaces are largely increased,and the water brought in direct contact therewith. 3d, in theintroduction and use of a common fire chamber in the interior of theboiler, Where the gases and smoke which escape from the several furnacesWill be consumed, and Whereby a much larger amount of fire surface isobtained than in any other boiler. The air register connected With thischamber adds greatly to increase the combustion and intensify the heat.4th, the draft from the fire chamber is downward and traverses the lues,consequently the heat Will be longer retained and more completelyabsorbed than in the usual form of locomotiveI boilers, where it passesoff longitudinally from the fire box. 5th, in consequence of thearrangement of the cylindrical furnaces, and the great extent of firesurface the combustion of the coal Will be much slower, the law being,the slower the fire the more perfect the combustion. 6th, by myimprovement I economize in the cost of construction and in the spaceoccupied, and in the amount of fuel consumed.

Some parts of the description herein appear to apply to locomotiveboilers only, but the principles of my improvements are equallyapplicable to stationary or steam boat boilers, Whether placed in anupright or horizontal position.

I claim* The construction, and arrangement of the interior fire chamber,c, relatively t-o the furnaces A, A, (&c.) and the registers B, B, (&c.)for the purposes, substantially as herein set forth.

ALONZO R. KETCHAM. l/Vitnesses lV. H. FoRBUsH, F. L. BALDWIN.

